Jake (UK actor William Moseley) is an American cop on vacation in Bangkok with his wife Prang (Urassaya Sperbund) and their daughter Loo (Akeira Hadden); they're in town for some much needed R&R but also to visit Prang's grandmother. But things go a bit pear shaped when they visit the local shopping mall. First Loo goes missing, only to be found chatting to a friendly monk, Chan (Alexander Lee) who seems to know Jake and refers to him as 'The Keeper of the Gates'. Secondly, and in a scene of perhaps dubious taste in these troubled times, an unhinged looking guy with scars enters the mall on a random shooting spree.
Jake, always on duty, separates from his family and attempts to take out the shooter who, when edged into a corner, laughs and combusts; this causes a huge explosion which in turn seems to drive the local population crazy, the denizens attacking each other frenziedly. While Prang and Loo escape by bus, Jake, pursued by a giant creature (the origin of which isn't really explained) bumps into Chan again, who has some good news, some bad news and some really terrible news to impart to our hero. As a result of his actions, the gates of hell have been opened, summoning Chan's dad, the evil necromancer (are there any other kinds?) Wichien (Varintorn Yaroojjanont); and Jake's the only one who can close it.
As you would expect from a pair with an extensive technical background, in interview Alex & Steffen are most proud of their movie's visuals; the feature contains over 600 stunning effects shots. More cynical heads might comment that the whole thing feels like one big CGI showreel and that halving the 600 might have given more room for characterisation. But honestly R:HSH is the kind of movie you just need to go with; it's fast, very glossy and has a rather nifty origin story which sets Jake up for future adventures. And being based on the 2017 Thai video game 'Home Sweet Home', what were you really expecting, anyway?
It may a bit 'boy's own' - all growling baddies and portentous dialogue - and Prang's character really has very little to do, but Moseley makes a good lead action hero. Despite all the visuals this is basically a film in which people slug it out, with little interaction between the array of monsters and the humans. Unfortunately the directors, faced with a climactic scene which should have involved two 'Jakes' battling each other, bottle it, which is a great shame as I was looking forward to the movie having a Face Off (or, more recently a Mickey 17) moment. Look, I wasn't bored, it's a well put together film and would have been great for kids if it wasn't for the mall shooting scene which felt uncomfortable and unjustifiable.
Rebirth: Home Sweet Home is available on digital platforms from 14 April and on DVD & Blu-ray from 21 April. Distributed by Signature Entertainment
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